How to Streamline Your Job Search in the New Year
If you’re looking for a job, chances are, somebody has told you the following: “Job searching is a job in itself.” And it really can be!
A thoughtful job search, just like an actual job, requires organization, attention to time management, and even a bit of skill-building. This can make for an extremely stressful and time-consuming process that may not always feel like it’s worthwhile.
If you’re ready to put in the work, but you’re also hoping to simplify your approach, resolve to streamline the process with these three tips for a more productive and less stressful search.
Establish a realistic schedule
We’ve all been there: sitting at a computer attempting to look for a new job only to get caught up in and distracted by everything but your search. It’s not easy to focus when you don’t have a clear plan about the way you’ll manage your time.
You’ll need to develop a realistic schedule, but in order to do that, ask yourself these questions first:
Where are my time limitations and which days am I most flexible?
How many hours or days a week will I allot to job searching?
How will I block out time according to specific task, such as company research, networking events or virtual networking, searching for positions, and submitting applications?
A way to create structure and encourage concentration is to treat job searching as if you’re clocking in for a day of work with a set schedule. It’s a clear way to set boundaries, stay on track, and feel less overwhelmed.
Your weekday job-searching schedule may look something like this:
6:30 a.m. – Eat breakfast and get ready for the day
7:30 a.m. – Spend an hour conducting company research for a specific job application
8:30 a.m. – Head to work
6:00 p.m – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Return to the job post from the morning and begin personalizing your resume and cover letter
8:00 p.m. – If you haven’t completed the application, set goal for the tasks you need to complete before you can submit and set up a calendar reminder to revisit and complete
8:30 p.m – Unwind for the day
Your schedule doesn’t need to be complicated or too rigid, but once you have a better understanding of exactly what you want to accomplish—and when you can get to it—you’ll likely spend less time strategizing and more time on the actual task at hand.
Use only the technology you need
After you’ve done the hard part of identifying time constraints and creating a schedule, it’s time to think about the tools you’ll use to stay accountable and productive.
While there are many tools and apps out meant to simplify the work we do—from building grocery lists to keeping track of appointments—relying too heavily on these productivity aids while you job hunt can cause additional stress and confusion. For this reason, it’s important to use only the tools you rely on for productive job searching. But how can you tell what you really cannot do without?
To help you identify the tech and productivity tools that will be most useful and less of an obstacle to productivity, consider your greatest needs and how a tool can make a difference. Ask yourself: